Religion will always be a necessary part of human life

To the editor:

As a youth I had faith in religion, but later, questions about birth control, free will, and the use of reason became a problem. Although I saw the good that religion provides in the local community, I also saw that religion causes a lot of discrimination and prejudice, as well as holy wars and fanaticism. Religion seemed to do more harm than good in the world, and I expected to eventually become an atheist, as well as an avid opponent of all organized religion.

But I had other questions about the grand scheme of things, so I began taking classes about science and the humanities at the local college, where I eventually discovered the cultural value of organized religion, which only added to my confusion. After 12 or 15 years of random classes, I came to realize that spiritual principles are at the base of both human culture and organized religion, and those principles are what enable mankind to survive and prosper.

But I also saw that some religious beliefs seem to be at odds with the spiritual principles they are based on, and I wondered how that is possible.

I was bewildered until I realized that the spiritual principles of human culture are introduced to each new generation of children by organized religion, regardless of the religion of their parents. After that, I accepted organized religion as a necessary part of human culture. Evidently, the social problems caused by religion result from a few fanatics and the competition between religious organizations, as well as some misconstrued religious beliefs. Although the spiritual principles of human culture (“Do unto others... etc.”), are reinforced by religion, it is up to individuals to practice them. Fortunately, the basic principles are imbedded in our cultures’ basic norms and mores.

When I withdrew from organized religion years ago, I adopted a moral code that is based on the underlying principles of human culture, and since then I’ve come to realize there are many other non-religious “thinking people” who contribute to the good of society in their own way. Many people have risen above the need for organized religion, but it will always be a necessary part of human life because religion recognizes the deeper meanings of spiritual principles. In addition to our survival, religion offers many benefits to our community — as well as to our personal quest for peace of mind and upward progress. Prejudice, discrimination, and holy wars result from ignorance and narrow-mindedness, but those problems are within our power to deal with through the use of reason and common sense — beginning with our selves — in our own little corner of the world.

Art Carney

Wasilla